ThisIsTheMusic

The State of Being Human is the debut album from The Shop Window and it’s an album full of memorable melodies, jangly guitars and brilliant harmonies. In short it’s an album that you want to hear over and over again. 

The Shop Window are fronted by Carl Mann and Simon  Syd Oxlee. Who were in a band called Westpier, signed to Indolent Records (home of Sleeper) in the 90s before parting company. Once Westpier folded, Carl ended up playing for Sleeper, as well as being part of Kyle Minogue’s touring band and co-wrote a song that ended up as a b-side. 

Nearly two decades later, Carl returned to Kent, where he was joined by old friends, Phill Elphee  (drums) and Martin Corder  (bass and backing vocals). Syd joined them as the sessions progressed, which brought 6 new songs, with a further 8 songs recorded in 2020, in between lockdown, which forms the basis of this excellent debut album. 

Heres the ThisIsTheMusic track by track review of the album!! 

Mannequin Lies 

This was the bands first proper release back in April 2020. The jangly guitars transport you back to the late baggy era of the 80s and shoegazing sound of the early 90s. A great start to the album! 

Ride It (While You Can)

Starts off with a little piano stomp, which remains throughout the song been the guitars drive the song forwards. The song is reflective and urges the listener to follow your dreams and to not have and any regrets. Great guitar riff halfway through the song, which builds and builds into the final outro. 

“Turn a new page from the book, open your eyes and take a look, don’t play it straight with your dreams”

Out Of Reach 

For this writer, this was my introduction into the band. A great song, written during and about lockdown, singing about missed days, weeks, months and people. The song has a great energy and starts off with a Johnny Marr esq, guitar riff, which leads into the thumping drums.  If you haven’t already then check out the video below, as it really supports the theme of the song. 

“Out of reach yeah, all the things that you love, lost for days yeah and another and another”

Break Down Walls

Brings the pace of the album down and is about breaking down barriers and trying to help each other, especially those who need it. 

Calling Out 

The song starts with a crowd of people talking, and consists of a thumbing and funky bass line and drumming. Those jangly guitars make a reappearance and the harmonies on the vocal, entwined with each other are magical. 

Disengage The Robots 

A song about the use of technology in the 21st century and in all honesty our over reliance on it. To paraphrase Noel Gallagher, the modern era is more interested in going to a coffee shop, spending a £5 on a coffee and sending text messages to their friends sat on the same table as them, rather than buying records. Mind boggling!

Flags 

Song starts off with fingerpicking of the guitar, before exploding into a crescendo of noise. So be great guitar hooks in this song. Bit of a protest song, as demonstrated in the lyric 

“If they wave their flags for you, I’ll raise mine higher and set in on fire”

Evacuate 

The pace is picked back up here and it’s a really upbeat pop song. The drumming really drives this song on and the outro with guitar riff is sublime. This was originally released as a double A-side with Out Of Reach. 

2nd Book 

Although the band firmly have their flags masted in the indie rock  categor, it’s great to see when a band is prepared to experiment a little. The bass is heavy and funky, and drives the song along. The reference to 2nd book, is about growing up and seeing where life takes you. 

Sad Eyes 

An autobiographical song about Carl’s visit to his Nan, and is a song about human connections. 

I Realise 

A love song about a couple separated by distance and longing to be together again. Another song with guitar playing that has similarities to Johnny Marr. 

Jack‘s Lullaby  

The album closer is an instrumental and it’s beautiful. Great finger picking on the guitar and even some sleigh bells. It’s the sort of music that would easily fit into  a movie. 

The State of Being Human is a masterclass in beautiful melodies, and harmonies and is a top quality album

The State of Being Human is released on vinyl/CD release on Friday 25th June on Spinout Nuggets Records and can be pre-ordered from the bands Bandcamp page, with a digital release on 2nd July from all of the usual platform.

For more information about The Shop Window then follow them on their social media channels; Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, You Tube andSpotify

The Shop Window are set to play O2 Islington Academy on 26th November, supporting Thousand Yard Stare.